Thanksgiving Break

Last Sunday I gave my first tour of Pine Lake. I was nervous, but it became easy after a while. In the end of the tour I discovered the parents were much more interested in Pine Lake than their daughter. After, I felt exhausted, but felt a stronger appreciation of this place after showing it to somebody else. There are lots of objects laying around Pine Lake which define it far better than words.

I got home late Tuesday night for Thanksgiving break. Mabel remembered me as well as other members of my family. I got to see friends, eat lots of food I love, and enjoy a lot of snow.  

Oliver's synthesizer pile, he has begun to record music.

I got to play the most ADHD game of Settlers of Catan, Isaac won.

I left earlier this morning than expected resulting in missing out on some goodbyes, but I have a feeling I will see these people again soon!

Happy 19th Zoë High!

Catching up.

I attempted a Maine classic: cranberry, squash, ricotta pizza. The pie turned out fairly accurate.


I spent a lot of my day today doing things I just need to do.

-Did Laundry

-Finished paper work for a new passport

-Finished work for tomorrow

Below is four photos of Straw Bale. Do you see it in the puddle? 

November Atmosphere.

I find myself, among this wood, somehow reminded of Japan. I miss my friends there. John or Josh, I am not sure, Chuck has confused me, and Akira in Osaka.

We now have new axes, we broke both the antique looking ones. This wood is all for our sauna.

The mushrooms are almost like coral. 

Straw Bale

The newest building at Pine Lake, Straw Bale, was completed in 2008. It is indeed made of bales of straw covered in mud, which is very energy efficient. It also has a ton of beautiful recycled wood. Students are not allowed to live in it, but traveling professors usually stay here when they visit. We use it a lot for tea, meditation, and book discussions.

Meditation room, blessed by the local Tibetan monks:

2nd Floor

Apples & Compost

I spent several hours laboring on the compost. I insulated, gave slight turn, and removed an entire wheelbarrow load of digested soil that had leaked from the bottom. I then spread it on the garden, all while being watched by a highly photogenic chipmunk that did not mind my presence. In fact, the chipmunk was completely inthralled with me, and even allowed several close up shots. 

Later that evening, I climbed the apple tree in the dark, and shook it until literally hundreds of apples fell from the branches. The deer will be pleased. Hugging the trunk high up in the boughs I looked out through tunnels of leaves and fruit.

Beat up and bruised the apples were transported by the four of us: Alyssa, Jason, Shannon, and I, and fed into cider press in the basement of the lodge. We pressed the mashed up bits and produced 2-3 gallons. Markee finished baking cookies in the same moment we did, a small exchange occurred. 

I recently shelled out $30 on comic producing software. I am making a comic for a project in Understanding Religion. It will be about the need for the presence of death, a time limit on life, to push humans to do what they want to do. I will talk about the philosophy of jumping, climbing, and the old fashion race car driving of Sir Stirling Moss. I will probably post it up on this blog when completed.

Mug Shot.

The November Pine Lake

Above is our sauna which is fired every Sunday and Wednesday. It operates in the dark, usually 8-10:30pm, but sometimes beyond 11. In the shallows of the lake the salamanders gather in the floodlight of the sauna. After you sweat enough you run into the lake while being careful not step on the small animals, and then squatting to dunk your whole body under the dark water. It feels like electrocution -in a good way. After, I shower and immediately go to bed.

Yesterday I went on a small canoe ride around the lake and to the island. 

This is the island.

We made a massive thai style stir-fry, this is right before we added tons of coconut milk and spices. We spent about $8 making this since we used up all the half rotten vegetables in the refrigerator. 

Halloween 2011

We cooked.

We ate.

We made a haunted house, set off the fire alarm twice, and had 6 visitors. 

We danced.

First Snow

The first snow has fallen. Friday we had our first dusting, Saturday we received several inches, then it took two days to melt. We still have patches of snow in the shadows, winter is lurking around us, waiting for the cold. 

The deer were as confused as me.